Seating Safety 'Protecting the Bumb's Bum'

[coffee break]

Something of the nature of a gel pad could allow a measure of deflection and rebound. It brings up the image of squeezing on a partially inflated balloon. Push one bulge and up pops another.

[kayentaut]

I used this product about 15 years ago in my first Superlight, it replaced the entire seat, filling up the drivers side of the tub.

 

 

I intend to use it again in the Caterham I just bought.

[Alaskossie]

How many of these considerations for bum protection should apply to a street-driven Seven that is not expected to be subjected to the kinds of complicated vertical acceleration/deceleration incidents that might occur in racing?

[Bonjo2]

I broke my back in a Subaru (T-6 compression fx, and 4 compressed disks), and bent the seat mounts and seat frame. I think the preferred near vertical seat position of autocross and some road race cars to blame.

 

In the stalker I run a "dicks sporting goods" stadium seat pad, and several cuts of firm foam padding under my aluminum seat's foam and fabric cover, as well as gel sides. The gel is really amazing but pricey and comes un-upholstered. The issues with the stalker and modern sevens with tall motors is you cannot see over the hood in a true lay back position. But, every degree counts, spreading vertical load.

[xcarguy]

How many of these considerations for bum protection should apply to a street-driven Seven that is not expected to be subjected to the kinds of complicated vertical acceleration/deceleration incidents that might occur in racing?

 

 

I agree that an off-road excursion is far less likely to happen while driving on the street, but it can (and does) happen as is echoed below in coffee’s post regarding his acquaintance and the Ford wagon. And I would dare say that any run-off area (if even available) would have the potential to be far more precarious than what I dealt with at TWS; culverts, ditches, embankments, high shoulder, etc….any of these have the potential to put air under the car.

 

 

FWIW. The guy that does seasonal service on my HVAC had an off road experience that resulted in crushed vertebra injury. He was driving a full size Ford wagon and left the road and was airborne, one of those N. GA roads where the road is higher than the pavement . . . . the seat had some give to it . . . . . so much you can do to prepare for bad situations . . . .